Summary of Allegations Against Father John Bauer:

Allegations against Father John Bauer came to light in documents subpoenaed from the Diocese of Pittsburgh concerning accusations against a different clergyman, Father Michael Romero.

A confidential memorandum created by Diocesan Assistance Coordinator Rita Flaherty was attached to a 2013 file that outlined a telephone conversation about these accusations. The victim stated that Romero and Bauer would give him and his cohorts alcohol and encourage them to drink. He has struggled with alcoholism as an adult and said that he attributes this to his early exposure to alcohol at the hands of Bauer and Romero. The victim also mentioned that Bauer drove him to a wrestling tournament in Columbus, Ohio, along with two other students. He said they were drinking in the car on the way there.

Romero and Bauer were also said to talk to the victim and other young boys about masturbation often. The victim also reports Bauer wrestling with him but says there was no genital contact. He noted Bauer’s wrestling with him and other boys was odd, as he was not involved in the wrestling program. The Diocese of Pittsburgh requested a written accusation from the victim, and he was given the information of Rita Flaherty’s counterpart in Florida, where the victim was living at the time.

Rita Flaherty, along with Bishop William Watersheild and Father Mark Eckman, had a meeting with Bauer to discuss the accusations. In the October 17, 2013, memorandum detailing the encounter, Bauer said he remembered the victim and recalled joining them in the “wrestling room” because he enjoyed working out.

In this meeting, Bauer was also asked specifically about the wrestling trip to Columbus, Ohio. At first, he denied the trip altogether. He later said he remembered the trip but denied giving alcohol to any of the boys. Father John Bauer said that perhaps the boys had brought their own alcohol, or that the victim had mistaken him for Father Michael Romero. According to Father Bauer, some of the boys would ask him for alcohol but she never gave them any.

On August 5th, 2014, these allegations were forwarded on to the Washington County District Attorney’s Office.

Bauer is still living and is believed to be residing in Carmichaels, Pennsylvania, area. He is 71 years old.

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